Latch mechanism



July 23, W46..

F. M. UDALL ETAL.

LATCH MECHANISM Filed Nov. 23, 1944 INVENTORS J7 ark/1 01. PM

i TORNEY Patented July 23, 1946 2,404,670 LATCH MECHANISM Frederick M. Udall and Paul Baumgarten, New York, N. Y.

Application November 23, 1944, Serial No. 564,767

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates particularly to a surface type or What is commonly called a cabinet lock.

One object is to provide a device in which the latch bolt is always concealed.

Another object is to provide a simple and inexpensive device.

Another ob-J'ect is to provide a device the mechanism of which may be shaped to any suitable design so that it is at the same time ornamental as well as useful.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of latch mechanism embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan and section of the same.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view including the strike plate.

Fig. 4 is an edge View of the base plate.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the latch bolt and strike plate.

The housing is made up of a base plate Ill and a cover ll suitably connected together. Inside of the housing is a latch bolt I? which slides on the base plate between the lugs l3 on the base plate. It is also guided between the base plate and cover by the arched portion l4 and the tail piece I5. A curved spring I6 is held within the cover and engages the tail piece iii of the latch bolt to hold it resiliently against the stop lug l3 in its latching position when its hook-like end I! engages beneath the hook ill of the strike plate or catch I9 when the door to which the device is secured is closed. The outer face of the hook I! is bevelled somewhat so as to automatically extend the bolt when the door (not shown) is being closed. The strike plate also has a camlike lug 20 to be engaged by the tip of the latch bolt when it is extended so as to automatically tend to force the door to open when the latch is disengaged.

The disengagement of the latch bolt is efiected by a rocker 2| which is pivoted at 22 and has teeth 2 23 meshing with holes 24 which constitute a gear rack in the sliding latch bolt.

The pivot shaft 22 is supported between the posts 25 which are integral with the base plate and a groove 26 formed by embossing the cover above the ends of the posts. The outer end of the rocker constitutes a handle of any suitable design for actuating the bolt. It will be noted that this form of device may be installed on either a right hand door or a left hand door-in other Words it is reversible.

The device is simple and compact and can be made of any suitable design. It will be noted that the latch bolt is concealed entirely and does not project from the housing at any time.

We claim:

1. Latch mechanism comprising a housing composed of a base plate and a cover, a latch bolt guided to slide on the base plate, said plate having posts projecting therefrom, a rocker having a shaft supported between said posts and said cover, said rocker having teeth geared to said bolt for retracting it. I

2. Latch mechanism comprising a housing composed of a base plate and a cover, a latch bolt guided to slide on the base plate, said plate having posts projecting therefrom, a rocker having a shaft supported between said posts and said cover, said rocker being geared to said bolt for retracting it and a bowed spring for opposing the action of said rocker.

3. Latch mechanism comprising a housing composed of a base plate and a cover having a groove, a latch bolt guided to slide on the base plate, said plate having posts projecting therefrom, a rocker having a shaft supported between said posts and the groove in said cover, said rocker being geared to said bolt for retracting it.

FREDERICK M. UDALL. PAUL BAUMGARTEN. 

